Abstract: A process for pre-emptive potential in bioremediation of oil spills comprising the steps of fabricating cells of micro-organisms capable of degrading hydrocarbons, encapsulating the cells into pods dissolvable in a non-hydrocarbon environment such as water, introducing the pods into a body of petroleum contained in a vessel which if unintentionally fractured to release the body of petroleum into the non-hydrocarbon environment will also release the cells, causing the cells to open and allow the micro-organism to degrade the hydrocarbon and consume the oil spill. The process may also include the step of recovering pods which are not released into the non-hydrocarbon environment from the body of petroleum.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide out of gases from, for example, the combustion of sulfur containing fossil fuels. The sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide contaminated gas is first contacted with an aqueous solution containing dimethyl sulfoxide and alkaline earth metal ions, wherein the aqueous solution is at an acidic pH, for example, at a pH of from about 2 to about less than 7, so that the sulfur dioxide in the gas is dissolved in the aqueous solution and, subsequently, reacts with the alkaline earth metal ions to form alkaline earth metal sulfates and alkaline earth metal sulfites. The gas is then contacted with an aqueous solution containing dimethyl sulfoxide and alkaline earth metal ions, wherein this aqueous solution is at a pH that is greater than 7 so that the carbon dioxide in the gas is dissolved in the aqueous solution and, subsequently, reacts with the alkaline earth metal ions to form alkaline earth metal carbonates.

Abstract: A process for pre-emptive potential in bioremediation of oil spills comprising the steps of fabricating cells of micro-organisms capable of degrading hydrocarbons, encapsulating the cells into pods dissolvable in a non-hydrocarbon environment such as water, introducing the pods into a body of petroleum contained in a vessel which if unintentionally fractured to release the body of petroleum into the non-hydrocarbon environment will also release the cells, causing the cells to open and allow the micro-organism to degrade the hydrocarbon and consume the oil spill. The process may also include the step of recovering pods which are not released into the non-hydrocarbon environment from the body of petroleum.